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New CFO Jonathan Baksht joins Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP) in June 2026

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Westlake Chemical Partners LP appointed Jonathan H. Baksht, age 51, as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a director of its general partner, effective June 15, 2026. He will also serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Westlake Corporation, the indirect parent company.

M. Steven Bender, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the general partner, will retire from the Board of Directors on June 15, 2026 and move into a Special Advisor role to the President, ahead of his previously disclosed retirement by year-end. This reflects a planned leadership transition rather than an abrupt change.

Mr. Baksht brings extensive financial leadership experience, having served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc., Chief Financial Officer of Pactiv Evergreen Inc., and Chief Financial Officer of Valaris Limited. The partnership also notes that there are no related-party transactions or family relationships requiring additional disclosure.

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Insights

Planned CFO handoff with an experienced external hire looks orderly and routine.

Westlake Chemical Partners is executing a structured transition as longtime finance leader M. Steven Bender retires by year-end. His shift to Special Advisor on June 15, 2026 indicates continuity, while relinquishing board and CFO roles to a successor.

Incoming CFO Jonathan H. Baksht has held senior finance roles at Fortune Brands Innovations, Pactiv Evergreen and Valaris. This background suggests familiarity with capital-intensive, industrial businesses, which aligns with Westlake’s ethylene-focused operations.

The company explicitly states there are no family relationships, related-party dealings, or special appointment arrangements for Mr. Baksht. Together with the prior disclosure of Mr. Bender’s retirement, this points to a routine, planned management evolution rather than a stress-driven leadership change.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Effective date of CFO transition June 15, 2026 Date Jonathan H. Baksht becomes CFO and director
New CFO age 51 years Age of Jonathan H. Baksht at appointment
Interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP 22.8% Partnership’s ownership interest in OpCo assets
Board role start date June 15, 2026 Date Baksht joins Board of the general partner
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer financial
"appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a director"
general partner financial
"a director of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership"
A general partner is the person or firm that runs an investment partnership and legally represents it — they make the day-to-day decisions, choose which assets to buy or sell, and are responsible for the partnership’s obligations. Investors care because the general partner’s judgment, risk-taking and fee and profit-sharing arrangements determine both the potential returns and the level of exposure to losses; think of the GP as the ship’s captain whose skill and honesty shape the voyage’s outcome.
limited partnership financial
"Westlake Chemical Partners is a limited partnership formed by Westlake Corporation"
A limited partnership is a legal business structure with two types of partners: at least one general partner who runs the business and bears full legal responsibility, and one or more limited partners who contribute money, share profits, and have liability capped at their investment. For investors, it matters because it separates control from financial exposure — like putting money into a store without managing it — and affects how returns, risks, taxes and transferability of ownership are handled.
Board of Directors financial
"will retire from the Board of Directors of the General Partner"
The Board of Directors is a group of people chosen by a company's owners to help make big decisions and oversee how the company is run. They act like a team of advisors or managers, making sure the company stays on track and meets its goals. Their choices can influence the company's success and how it grows.
ethylene production facilities technical
"to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and other qualified assets"
Understanding 8-K Material Events →
false 0001604665 0001604665 2026-04-20 2026-04-20
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 20, 2026

 

 

Westlake Chemical Partners LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36567   32-0436529

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  

(Commission

File Number)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2801 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 600  
Houston, Texas   77056
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 585-2900

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

  

Trading
Symbol(s)

  

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common units representing limited partner interests   WLKP   The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 

Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 20, 2026, Westlake Chemical Partners LP (the “Partnership”) announced that Jonathan H. Baksht, age 51, was appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a director of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), effective June 15, 2026. Mr. Baksht will succeed Mr. M. Steven Bender, who, as previously disclosed, will retire by the end of the year and, effective June 15, 2026, will retire from the Board of Directors of the General Partner and transition from his position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner to the position of Special Advisor to the President of the General Partner.

In connection with his appointment as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and director of the General Partner, Mr. Baksht was also appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Westlake Corporation, the indirect parent company of the General Partner, effective June 15, 2026.

Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Baksht served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. from May 2025 to March 2026. From May 2022 to May 2025, Mr. Baksht served as Chief Financial Officer of Pactiv Evergreen Inc. and from August 2013 to September 2021, Mr. Baksht held various positions at Valaris Limited, including most recently as Chief Financial Officer from November 2015 until September 2021. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and in management consulting at Andersen Consulting. He has served on the Board of Directors of Duxion Motors Inc. since January 2022 and previously served on the Board of Directors of ARO Drilling, a joint venture between Valaris and Saudi Aramco, from April 2019 to September 2021. Mr. Baksht received a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

There are no family relationships between Mr. Baksht and any director or executive officer of the General Partner. Mr. Baksht does not have any interest in any transactions with the Partnership requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Baksht and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as an officer or director of the General Partner.

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 20, 2026, the Partnership issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Baksht as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a director of the General Partner. A copy of the press release is furnished with this Current Report as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

   

Description

99.1    Press release issued April 20, 2026
104    The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

   

WESTLAKE CHEMICAL PARTNERS LP

 

By: Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, its general partner

Date: April 20, 2026     By:  

/s/ L. Benjamin Ederington

      L. Benjamin Ederington
      Executive Vice President, Legal and External Affairs and Director

Exhibit 99.1

Westlake Chemical Partners Appoints Jonathan H. Baksht as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

HOUSTON, April 20, 2026- Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE: WLKP) (the “Partnership”) announced today that Mr. Jonathan H. Baksht will be joining the Partnership as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and as a director of Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), effective June 15, 2026. Mr. Baksht succeeds Mr. M. Steven Bender, who, as previously disclosed, will retire by the end of the year and, effective June 15, 2026, will retire from the Board of Directors of the General Partner and transition from his position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner to the position of Special Advisor to the President of the General Partner.

Mr. Baksht most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. from May 2025 to March 2026. From May 2022 to May 2025, Mr. Baksht served as Chief Financial Officer of Pactiv Evergreen Inc. (now Novolex) and from August 2013 to September 2021, Mr. Baksht held various positions at Valaris Limited, including most recently as Chief Financial Officer from November 2015 until September 2021. Earlier in his career, he worked in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co., and in management consulting at Andersen Consulting. He has served on the Board of Directors of Duxion Motors Inc. since January 2022, and previously served on the Board of Directors of ARO Drilling, a joint venture between Valaris and Saudi Aramco, from April 2019 to September 2021.

Mr. Baksht received a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

“We are pleased to have an executive with Jon’s depth of experience from the oil and gas, packaging and building products industries join our management team,” said Mr. Jean-Marc Gilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner. “We are confident he will make an important contribution to the ongoing growth and development of Westlake Chemical Partners. Although he will still be with us for several more months, we thank Steve for all his contributions to the success of the Partnership since its formation.”

About Westlake Chemical Partners LP

Westlake Chemical Partners is a limited partnership formed by Westlake Corporation to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and other qualified assets. Headquartered in Houston, the Partnership owns a 22.8% interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP. Westlake Chemical OpCo LP’s assets include three facilities in Calvert City, Kentucky, and Lake Charles, Louisiana which process ethane and propane into ethylene, and an ethylene pipeline. For more information about Westlake Chemical Partners LP, please visit http://www.wlkpartners.com/.

###

Contacts

Media Inquiries:

Ben Ederington, 713-960-2900

or

Investor Inquiries:

Steve Bender, 713-960-2900

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What executive change did Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP) announce?

Westlake Chemical Partners appointed Jonathan H. Baksht as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective June 15, 2026. He will also become a director of the general partner, succeeding long-time finance leader M. Steven Bender as part of a planned retirement transition.

When will Jonathan H. Baksht assume the CFO role at Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP)?

Jonathan H. Baksht will assume the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer role on June 15, 2026. On that date, he also joins the board of the general partner and becomes CFO of Westlake Corporation, the partnership’s indirect parent company.

What happens to current CFO M. Steven Bender at Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP)?

M. Steven Bender will retire from the Board of Directors of the general partner and leave the Executive Vice President and CFO role on June 15, 2026. He will transition to Special Advisor to the President before his previously disclosed retirement by year-end.

What is Jonathan H. Baksht’s background before joining Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP)?

Jonathan H. Baksht previously served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Fortune Brands Innovations, CFO of Pactiv Evergreen Inc., and CFO of Valaris Limited. Earlier, he worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and management consulting at Andersen Consulting, bringing broad financial experience.

What business does Westlake Chemical Partners (WLKP) operate?

Westlake Chemical Partners is a limited partnership formed by Westlake Corporation to operate, acquire and develop ethylene production facilities and related assets. It owns a 22.8% interest in Westlake Chemical OpCo LP, whose assets include three ethylene facilities and an ethylene pipeline.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

Press Releases

Other Documents